Pretty Pergola as Circular Centrepiece

The challenge

The owners of this established garden in Earl Shilton, Leicestershire asked if we could level out and modernise their landscape and turn a neglected outdoor space into something more functional and stylish.

The lawn was bare in places, and the grass needed replacing. The ground was also uneven, and our clients wanted a smoother surface with a pathway to make their new garden easier to navigate and maintain.

The concept

We laid grey multi sandstone paving from the steps that led down from the patio at the back of the house. This paving created a winding pathway running through the garden to a central circular patio area.

As well as the spherical patio, we cut a second circle into the new lawn and built a circular pergola to cover a feature flowerbed in the middle of the garden. This flowerbed will become an eye-catching centrepiece with climbers growing up and across the pergola and bedding plants on the ground to give a colourful display.

The new circular patio acts as a base for the summerhouse and also as an informal entertainment area. We laid block edging around the shape of the patio space to highlight the circle and separate the paving from the lawn and flowerbeds.

We grouted all the sandstone paving using eco-fill grouting compound as this resin-based product is resistant to frost damage and helps to prevent weeds growing in the joints of the stones.

Using fresh turf, we installed a new lawn all the way through the garden and cut it into shape. We wanted to maximise the lawn space but at the same time make sure it was easy to maintain. The garden has a gentle slope from top to bottom, and this allowed water to flow away from the house and the soil to stay in place.

Next, we retained and raised the back left-hand corner of the garden using the existing brick pathways between the growing areas. We then relocated a small shed and shed base to the far corner of the garden. Geotextile weed membrane was installed across the back of the garden and lined with 20mm gravels. This now formed a low maintenance utility area.

The conclusion

Before, the garden had been difficult to navigate in places, and this made it harder to manage. Using features of the existing landscape, such as the gentle slope, we were able to devise a garden design that makes the most of this outdoor space.

Everything is this garden now works together in harmony and our clients are very happy with the result. The garden is both practical and pretty with a functional utility area as well as an attractive winding pathway that lets you walk easily through the lawn and flowerbeds.

Click the video below to see what Annie Taylor says about Leicestershire Garden Design and her beautiful new dream garden!